Roma St Parklands, on the fringe of the CBD, is crucial greenspace for our growing community.
In 2019, the state government announced portions of the Parklands would fall under a Priority Development Area (PDA) to coincide with the development of Cross River Rail.
In 2021, residents banded together alongside Amy MacMahon, Greens MP for South Brisbane, upon release of the draft masterplan to ensure as much greenspace was preserved as possible with this new PDA. 11 of 16 hectares of greenspace was committed to be preserved, alongside an additional 2 hectares the state government promised to local residents. There were also several new apartment buildings to be built under the PDA. The campaign from local residents and Amy secured a commitment that at least 10% of these new dwellings would be reserved for social and affordable housing.
Brisbane Arena
In March 2024, the Quirk Review commissioned by the current Member for McConnel and Minister for State Development, Grace Grace, recommended the proposed Olympic venue, Brisbane Arena, be relocated. Instead of being built above the rail lines at Roma St Station, it was recommended to be constructed in the part of the Parklands where the additional 2 hectares of greenspace and new housing was promised.
Between March and August, residents were not provided with any new information about the proposed relocation of the Arena from the state government or the local MP. In early August, local residents found out via the media what this proposed venue might look like, with some mock-up images.
Local residents have not been offered any more information than these mock-ups since. The arena as shown in the render seems to impact significantly more space than the original PDA area and could extend out into the main part of the Parklands. In any case, the rainforest areas of the Parkland will be lost entirely under this new plan from the state government.
It’s clear that local residents of Roma St Parklands are concerned by the proposed Brisbane Arena, most notably the lack of transparency, consultation and communication from the current State Government in regards to this project. Many are understandably feeling cut out of the government’s decisionmaking process, having heard of the proposal for the first time through the media.
The Department of State Development website simply states that “The Roma Street Precinct Master Plan is underway”, and provides no further details or updates for residents.
While residents have remained in the dark about plans for Brisbane Arena and Roma Street Parklands, Labor Ministers and LNP Shadow Ministers have regularly been accepting thousands of dollars worth of gifts from the two major corporations vying for the operating contract for the proposed stadium, ASM Global and Live Nation. In addition to this, the Labor Party has accepted political donations from both of these corporations in the past year worth $11,000 and $8,000 respectively.
Based on the very little information released thus far, the Arena being built at Roma St Parklands will greatly impact on the current greenspace. It's of utmost importance to the Greens that we protect biodiversity, greenspace and public space here in the inner city. Roma St Parklands is the backyard for Brisbane City’s residents, who almost all live in apartments. As our city densifies, governments should be prioritising the allocation of more greenspace, not getting rid of it. Just across the river, the community in Woolloongabba fought to keep their park, under threat from the Gabba Stadium rebuild. It’s incredible that Labor are making yet another community fight for their parkland.
We are now more than three years down the road from Brisbane being confirmed as the hosts of the 2032 Games. It was Labor’s idea to bid for these Olympics that no other city wanted. They made that bid with no clear plans for venues.
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